February 26, 2016

2 UP Debater-Friends talk about PiliPinas Debates 2016

Thinking Pinoy (TP) and JC have been friends for more than a decade. They met through the UP Debate Society, where both of them were members. In this article, let me, TP, share with you our real-time conversation while we were both watching the Presidential Debates on GMA 7 aired Sunday, February 21st.

Round 1: Track Record

Q for Binay: "How did you amass your real property and wealth?
Binay: I either inherited or bought these over 3 decades."
Santiago: "Did Binay acquire his properties before he was elected or when he was already in office?"

Q for Santiago: "You have attended fewer than 10 plenary sessions in the 16th Congress. Why are you running despite your illness?"
Santiago: "It's my right to run under the Constitution. Sickness does not disqualify you...Eh, hindi ako pinatay ng guardian angel ko!"
Duterte: "I will not go into a debate with Ma'am Miriam. She's telling the truth. I do not see Senator Santiago passing away in the next 20 years."

TP:Weak ang sagot ni Miriam regarding her health. She can run daw because health is not required under the law. Ate, ayoko ng presidenteng pirmes na naka-sick leave.

JC:Super weak talaga.

TP:I was disappointed at Duts’ rebuttal about Miriam’s health. Pero I guess he can’t rebut her to the max considering the Duterte health issue that LP is desperately trying to magnify.

Q for Duterte: "Are you a role model for the youth? Are your qualities those we need in a president?
Duterte: As long as I do it in accordance with the law, I will continue to kill criminals...I will use the military and police to go after drugs. I do not deny anything...If I become president, it will be bloody."TP's Note: This is also the part where he said "It's Biology."

Round 2: Agriculture

Topic: "One in every 4 families fell below the poverty line as of 2014. How will you reduce poverty without giving consumers a raw deal?"
Binay: "We will modernize agriculture by modernizing post-harvest facilities, attracting more capital for infra (among others)."
Poe: "Irrigation should be free. Crop insurance should be expanded. We need agro-industrial zones. Public schools should offer free lunch. The poorest Filipinos are in agriculture; they need subsidies. When importing, let's consider the plight of farmers."

TP:Si Poe, her answers cite statistics that are impressive, pero feasibility dapat kasi issue niya from start to finish considering her thin resume. We know what should be done, she should explain how she can manage to do it.

Q for Santiago: "The Philippine economy has grown but many Filipinos remain poor. How would you redistribute wealth?"
Santiago: "Let's expand the budget for health, education, rural infrastructure, social welfare. We can decrease sub-taxes, like real estate tax. ”
Roxas: "We have safety nets, like Philhealth. I will continue this if elected as president."
Santiago: “Promises are easy to make. Which president has ever reduced poverty? Where are we going to get the money for these programs?”

Q for Roxas: "How will you improve the lives of fishers and protect our seas?"
Roxas: "Access to low-interest credit and modern tech, like radars, are essential. They also need post-catch facilities and access to markets."
Duterte: "I cannot rebut what he has said because that is all true. The problem is we have so many problems to solve. Implementation is the key."

Q for Duterte: "How will you fight rice cartels and price manipulation?"
Duterte: "Sus, Ma'am. I'll do it in 3-6 months. I will arrest smugglers, build food terminals, establish credit coops with P1B per region."
Binay: "Leaders cannot be effective if they are not decisive. That is why nothing is being done against smuggling."

Q for Poe: "Will you push for the Bangsamoro Basic Law or will you pursue a new agreement?"
Poe: "We need a transparent, inclusive, sustainable talks and agreement and consult everyone, including Christians in Mindanao...we also need to invest more in the growth of Mindanao."
Duterte: "Unless we pursue federalism, nothing can appease Mindanao. I would offer not only the BBL, but federalism. You have to right the historical wrongs committed against Mindanao."

TP:Totoo lang ha, Poe is starting to sound like a UP Debate Society applicant, emphasis on “applicant”.

TP:Non-answer from Binay.

JC:Dafuq. Hay Binay.

TP:IKR. In fairness reasonably nuanced si Duterte this time about improving agriculture.

TP:BuB is de facto pork barrel. Dahil kung sino incumbent yon masusunod. Or worse, it can be an avenue for regular people to partake in corruption, i.e. if there 3 or so dissidents, tapalan na lang ng pera para tumigil, tapos si mayor pa rin masusunod.

Q for Duterte: "How will you prevent irregularities in infrastructure projects?"
Duterte: "64% of projects are in Metro Manila. Mindanaoans are angry because we are not getting a fair share of tax revenue...That's why people clamor for federal government."
Roxas: "Mindanao today has twice the amount of infra in 5 years than it did in Estrada, Arroyo years. But yes, that's not enough."
Duterte: "Wala akong nakitang tuwid na daan. Puro kulubot naman yan."

TP:CHREW. Back to topic - Remember that Mar is the face of Daang Matuwid. Strengths and flaws and achievements and mistakes, he is Daang Matuwid's poster boy. Kaya every ek ek against RP Government, it's against mar.

20 minutes of commercials later…
Q for Santiago: "Are you in favor of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, as one way to counter China's influence?"
Santiago: "I am against the Edca. It should've first passed the Senate, not just the executive department...Let us stand for our sovereign rights."
Poe: "I agree with Senator Santiago. The Senate needs to review Edca. We must put the country's interests first. We can also strengthen our military, the way Singapore has. Let us take a leadership role in the Asean."

Q for Poe: "Will you push for the Bangsamoro Basic Law or will you pursue a new agreement?"
Poe: "We need a transparent, inclusive, sustainable talks and agreement and consult everyone, including Christians in Mindanao...we also need to invest more in the growth of Mindanao."
Duterte: "Unless we pursue federalism, nothing can appease Mindanao. I would offer not only the BBL, but federalism. You have to right the historical wrongs committed against Mindanao."

TP:Trew. The issue with the current unitary government is the fleetingness of every attempt at decentralizing power. From the Tripoli Agreement to Cory to FVR to Erap to GMA to PNoy, iba-iba ang policy sa Mindanao.

Santiago: "We are looking for a real leader. This is not a personality contest or entertainment. There should be academic excellence, as head of the class or at least an honors student. The leader should have shown professional and moral excellence. Good luck to you and good luck to all of us."

Duterte: "Nganong nia man ko diri. I am here because I love our country. I am a native of the Philippines...it seems nobody is minding the store! If you choose me and God wills it, I will get rid of drugs, suppress crime and stop corruption in government in 3 to 6 months."

TP:Tall order ang kay Duterte, but I can see the conviction. And he’s uncharacteristically concise. Nuknukan ng daldal at long-winding ang mga speech niya usually. Not this time though.

JC:3-6 months? Scary time frame, though.

TP:Yes it is. But its either we do it or we dont.

Poe: "This is not about candidates but about what's important to you. For Mindanao, I will rehab the power system, provide more jobs, fight corruption. My first executive order will require Freedom of Information. Yes, I am new, but our problems are not new and we have tried to fix them with old solutions."

TP:I would admit though that Poe gave the best textbook answers. But her inexperience and unaffiliated-ness overshadows everything she said, kasi basically gusto niya sabihin na lets vote for her dahil GANDA LANG.

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